A lamp designed by Tina Lidogoster on a recent visit to the newly renovated Cooper Hewitt. Posted to @metlibrary by @blueherw
«The Cooper Hewitt reopened in December to much fanfare, after an ambitious three-year gut renovation. The Atlantic described it as "the museum of the future," and singled out its new interactive pen as a "godsend." Several Watson librarians recently ventured up Fifth Avenue to see what the future looks like and to try out these new pens. Among our contingent was Tina Lidogoster, who used her pen to design a futuristic Watson Library "lamp," seen above. After our visit, she was able to access her design online, which she then shared with me so I could post it on our new Instagram account.»
This is the latest social media initiative at Watson Library. Run by five staff members (shown below, hiding behind books), it is a space for us to engage with an audience beyond those who are able to make it through the doors of The Metropolitan Museum of Art each day.
Watson Library's first Instagram photo, featuring, from left: William Blueher (@blueherw), Leah High (@coloring_party), Julie Lê (@sweetjewelsnyc), Dana Hart (@dana.hart), and PJ Raftery (@pj_stand). Posted to @metlibrary by @blueherw
We've already been posting a wide variety of images that capture the diversity and richness of Watson Library—from the scholarly to the lighthearted, the useful to the whimsical. Here's a fun one of two Nolen Library volunteers showing off some of their Lunar New Year ink.
Volunteers Phyllis and Christine, showing off their Lunar New Year tattoos. Posted to @metlibrary by @coloring_party
Then there's this lovely image of two eighteenth-century almanacs we recently acquired. The penny shown in the photo gives you a sense of just how petite these two works are.
Tiny almanacs, just larger than a penny. Posted to @metlibrary by @dana.hart
Special Collections Librarian Jared Ash recently brought in a class from Cooper Union to show them some of Watson's photomontage and Constructivist books. He unfolded this early Soviet work as we all learned about the fascinating world of 1920s Soviet visual culture.
Librarian Jared Ash shows some of Watson's photomontage and Constructivist books to a visiting class from Cooper Union. Posted to @metlibrary by @blueherw
And let's not forget #fashionfriday, brought to you each week by Costume Institute Librarian Julie Lê. Here's one that features John Loring's Tiffany Style.
Photo posted to @metlibrary by @sweetjewelsnyc in celebration of National Jewelry Day
I intentionally neglected to show off our #weirdwednesday posts, which I'll let you discover for yourself when you visit our profile.
Follow us on Instagram and post your own Watson-inspired images when you come to visit. Be sure to use the hashtag #metlibrary and mention @metlibrary. Happy gramming!